Loss Of Innocence In Frankenstein

The creature in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, is trying to fit into the human community, but is neglected and rejected by society solely on his physical appearance, deformity. “The demon is (sub) human consciousness-in-the-making, naturally benevolent as Milton’s Satan is not, and received with horror and contempt solely because of his physical appearance” (Oates 32). Abandoned by his creator, Victor Frankenstein, the creature ventures off on his own, and shows through experiences that indeed he is benevolent. However, his benevolence soon turns into vengeance, as he is constantly mistreated by the human race; the creature commits heinous acts. I disagree with Lawrence Lipking’s statement that “the novel is ambiguous on whether we

The creature becomes hesitant to interact with the De Lacey family, inhabitants of the cottage, because of his experience at the previous village. Thus, the creature observes the cottagers from afar, without revealing himself. Through his numerous observations, the creature becomes to admire their kindness and the affection they give each other. Shelley shows the compassionate side of the creature where he sympathizes with the De Lacey family’s problems. The creature stops consuming the De Lacey family’s food, once he realizes that they are often left hungry. Also, the creature secretly starts to help the family by borrowing their tools to cut them wood, doing the heavier chores for the family. He begins to become hopeful that the De Lacey family would look past his appearance and longs for their acceptance. Unfortunately, his hopes were crushed. As he asks the old man, Felix’s father, for protection and shelter, he was struck by Felix with a stick, who believed that the creature was at the cottage to hurt his father. Mary Shelley shows that even the most virtuous humane people have a prejudice. Felix’s first instinct was to strike the creature rather than to listen to the creature. Even as the creature is being beaten by Felix, the creature refrains from striking back, showing his benevolence. “I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere

Because of his desire for a companion and a friend, the creature grabs the boy and attempts to kidnap him. He believed that the child would be too young to be prejudice to his deformity. The creature was mistaken. As he carries William, the child screams and calls the creature a monster. However, what provokes the creature to murder the child is when William tells the creature that his father is Frankenstein. Hearing the name of his creator, whom he despised and blamed for his misery, the creature suffocates William to death. On William’s dead body, the creature picks out a necklace, with a portrait of a gorgeous woman. Later, the creature enters a barn, where he encounters a sleeping Justine Moritz. He places the necklace on Justine and frames her for the murder of William. Later she becomes condemned to death, and is executed. This marks the beginning of the creature’s misdeeds and evil